Video driving game system and control device

ABSTRACT

A video driving game system includes a game console and a control device. The game console includes a processor unit for executing a driving game so as to manipulate a virtual driving vehicle and a display apparatus having a display screen for displaying the virtual driving vehicle. The control device includes a coupler member, a handheld handle projecting outward from the coupler member toward and be manipulated by an operator for turning the handle, thereby controlling the virtual driving vehicle, left and right distance detectors mounted respectively on left and right sides of the coupler member wherein, movement of body of the operator toward left and right sides of the coupler member causes the left and right detectors to generate first and second signals that command the virtual driving vehicle to swing leftwise and rightwise of the coupler member and movement of body of the operator toward the right side of the coupler member causes the right distance detector to generate a second signal that commands the virtual driving vehicle to swing rightwise of the coupler member.

This application claims the benefit of the Taiwan Patent Application Serial NO. 098214455, filed on Aug. 5, 2008, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a video driving game system, more particularly to a control device adapted to be coupled to a game console of a video driving game and which utilizes sensors to detect movement of the operator's body so as to control a virtual driving vehicle of the video driving game.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A video driving game, such as virtual car racing, virtual water craft skiing, virtual horse race or virtual skiing on the snow, occupies a relatively large portion of the video game market. Presently, a video game console of stand-alone type includes a hardware interface, like keyboard and joystick serving as an operator or input device, operation of which enable the operator to control a virtual driving vehicle. Such type of game though provides a driving effect, still needs improvement like a rear ones.

In order to enhance the amusement and input operation similar to the rear world, the stand-alone video driving game console generally includes a display screen, a motorbike mold to permit seating of a rider thereon, and some mechanical switches provided at the bottom of the motorbike mold upon which the rider legs can step on as if he is driving a rear ones, thereby controlling a virtual driving image in the display screen.

It incurs a great expense to design and build the above-mentioned video driving game console and requires a large room for storage due to its bulky size. In addition, the motorbike mold is too heavy and difficult for a female player to operate, like swinging sidewise thereof during the playing game.

Therefore, it is the main object of the present invention to provide a video driving game system and a control device adapted to be coupled to a game console, in which, the hardware interface serving as the input device is altered such that operation of the same becomes easy and delicate, thereby largely simplifying the design of the game console and greatly reducing the construction cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to alter the structure of hardware interface in the prior art video game console, and provides a video driving game system and a control device coupled to a game console. The control device includes left and right distance detectors capable of detecting and generating control signals in response to swinging movement of the operator's body so as to control the driving speed of a virtual driving vehicle in the display screen.

The video driving game system of the present invention includes a game console and a control device. The game console is used for controlling a video driving game, and includes a processor unit and a display apparatus. The processor unit executes a video driving game so as to manipulate a virtual driving vehicle of the video driving game. The display apparatus includes a display screen for displaying the virtual driving vehicle resulted from execution of the video driving game.

The control device is coupled to the game console, and includes a coupler member, a handheld handle, a left distance detector and a right distance detector.

The coupler member is coupled to the game console via a rotation shaft structure. The handheld handle projects outward from the coupler member toward an operator of the video driving game and is adapted to be manipulated by the operator for turning the handle, thereby controlling the virtual driving vehicle. The handheld handle includes a left handgrip and a right handgrip projecting outward respectively and symmetrically from left and right sides of the coupler member. Each of the left and right handgrips is provided with a petrol lever for controlling supply of petrol so as to adjust a driving speed of the virtual driving vehicle.

Each of the left and right distance detectors is an infrared sensor. The left distance detector is mounted on a left side of the coupler member while the right distance detector is mounted on a right side of the coupler member, wherein, movement of body of the operator toward the left side of the coupler member 11 causes the left distance detector to generate a first signal that commands the virtual driving vehicle to swing leftwise of the coupler member and movement of body of the operator toward the right side of the coupler member causes the right distance detector to generate a second signal that commands the virtual driving vehicle to swing rightwise of the coupler member.

In the prior art video game console, the hardware interface, such as the keyboard and joystick, serve as the input device. It incurs high expense to build a vehicle mold and requires a large room to accommodate the same. In contrast, in the video driving game system of the present invention, the left and right distance detectors are mounted respectively on the left and right sides of the coupler member to detect swinging movement of the operator's body relative thereto, thereby generating signals for commanding the virtual driving vehicle to swing leftwise and rightwise of the coupler member and consequently simplifying largely the design of the game console and greatly reducing the difficulties in handling operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing a video driving game system and control device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates one preferred embodiment of a video game console consisting the video driving game system and the control device of the present invention; and

FIGS. 3 to 4A respectively illustrate how an operator manipulates a virtual driving vehicle in a display screen of the video driving game system and the control device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing a video driving game system and control device of the present invention. As illustrated, the video driving game system 100 includes a game console 2 and a control device 1. The game console 2 is used for controlling a video driving game, and includes a processor unit 22 and a display apparatus 21.

The processor unit 22 in fact is a processor including a printed circuit board with corresponding electronic components for executing the video driving game so as to manipulate a virtual driving vehicle of the video driving game.

The display apparatus 21 includes a display screen 211, such as an LCD, for displaying the virtual driving vehicle resulted from execution of the video driving game. Note that the virtual driving vehicle 2111 is selected from a group consisting of a virtual motorbike, a virtual bicycle, a virtual water craft and a virtual horse. In this embodiment, the virtual driving vehicle is an image of a motorbike in the display screen 211.

The control device 1 includes a coupler member 11, a handheld handle 12, a left distance detector 13 and a right distance detector 14, wherein each of the left and right distance detectors 13, 14 is an infrared sensor. FIG. 2 shows the game console 2 and the control device 1 implemented in the video driving game system 100 of the present invention.

The coupler member 11 is coupled to the game console 2 via a rotation shaft structure 15 (see FIG. 2). The left distance detector 13 is mounted on a left side of the coupler member 11 while the right distance detector 14 mounted on a right side of the coupler member 11 symmetric to the former one. The display screen 211 is exposed to an exterior of the game console 2, and displays the virtual driving vehicle 2111.

The handheld handle 12 projects outward from the coupler member 11 toward an operator 200 of the video driving game and adapted to be manipulated by the operator 200 for turning the handle 12, thereby controlling the virtual driving vehicle 2111 in the display screen 211. The handheld handle 12 includes a left handgrip 12 b and a right handgrip 12 a projecting outward respectively and symmetrically from left and right sides of the coupler member 11. Each handgrip is a circle in cross section. At least one of the left and right handgrips 12 b, 12 a is provided with a petrol lever for controlling supply of petrol so as to adjust a driving speed of the virtual driving vehicle 2111.

For driving the virtual driving vehicle 2111 in the display screen 211, the operator 200 can manipulate the control device 1 in three ways; namely: (i) the virtual driving vehicle 2111 can be turned by cooperation of the handle 12 and the coupler member 11, (ii) by turning the right handgrip 12 a so as to increase the driving speed of the virtual driving vehicle 2111, (iii) swinging movement of the operator's body to leftwise and rightwise of the coupler member 11 results in sidewise turnings of the virtual driving vehicle 2111.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, when the operator 200 turns the coupler member 11 after gripping the handle 12 in the I1 direction, the rotation shaft structure 15 being connected to the coupler member 11 is rotated in the same direction, thereby generating a first signal transmitted to the processor unit 22 for execution so that the virtual driving vehicle 2111 turns in the I1 direction.

When the operator 200 rotates the right handgrip 12 a in the I2, thereby rotating the petrol lever so as to generate a second signal transmitted to the processor unit 22 for execution so as to adjust the driving speed (i.e., increasing the speed) of the virtual driving vehicle 2111.

Note that movement of body of the operator 200 toward the left side of the coupler member 11 causes the left distance detector to generate a signal that commands the virtual driving vehicle 2111 to swing leftwise of the coupler member 11 and movement of body of the operator 200 toward the right side of the coupler member 11 causes the right distance detector 14 to generate a signal that commands the virtual driving vehicle to swing rightwise of the coupler member 11. An example of the driving operation is given in the following paragraphs.

FIGS. 3 to 4A respectively illustrate how an operator 200 manipulates the virtual driving vehicle 2111 in the display screen 211 of the video driving game system 100 and the control device 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a top view, where the operator 200 grips the handle 12 with his both hands, thereby spacing the body from the coupler member 11 at a predetermined distance such that the left and right distance detectors 13, 14 can not detect the presence of the body. Under this condition, the virtual driving vehicle 2111 in the display screen 211 is erected uprightly.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 4A, wherein FIG. 4 shows a top view, where the operator 200 grips the handle 12 with his both hands and swings his body slightly toward the right side of the coupler member 11 so that the right distance detector 14 can detect the presence of the operator body. The right distance detector 14 generates a signal in response to the operator body and is transmitted to the processor unit 22 for execution. Under this condition, the virtual driving vehicle 2111 in the display screen 211 swings rightwise in response to the operator body.

In the prior art video driving game console, the hardware interface, such as keyboard and joystick, is used as the input device, which provides no environment feeling. In addition, a relatively large mold is used so that the operator must exert a relative force to operate the same. In contrast, in the video driving game system 100 of the present invention, the control device 1 is coupled to the left and right distance detectors 13, 14 via the coupler member 11 so as to detect swinging movement of the operator 200 such that the distance detector may generates signal in response to swinging movement of the operator body for controlling movement of the virtual driving vehicle 2111. Thus, the delicate driving operation provides attractive environment feeling to the operator 200 due to swinging movement of the body, thereby emulating as if he is driving a real motorbike and enhancing the driving pleasure.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A control device adapted to be coupled to a game console for controlling a virtual driving vehicle of a video driving game, the control device comprising: a coupler member; a handheld handle projecting outward from said coupler member toward an operator of the video driving game and adapted to be manipulated by the operator for turning said handle, thereby controlling the virtual driving vehicle; a left distance detector mounted on a left side of said coupler member; and a right distance detector mounted on a right side of said coupler member; wherein, movement of body of the operator toward the left side of said coupler member causes said left distance detector to generate a first signal that commands the virtual driving vehicle to swing leftwise of said coupler member and movement of body of the operator toward the right side of said coupler member causes said right distance detector to generate a second signal that commands the virtual driving vehicle to swing rightwise of said coupler member.
 2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation shaft structure, said coupler member being coupled to the game console via said rotation shaft.
 3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the game console includes a processor unit for executing the video driving game and a display apparatus including a display screen for displaying the virtual driving vehicle generated from execution of the video driving game.
 4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual driving vehicle is selected from a group consisting of a virtual motorbike, a virtual bicycle, a virtual water craft and a virtual horse.
 5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein each of said left and right distance detectors is an infrared sensor.
 6. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said handheld handle includes a left handgrip and a right handgrip projecting outward respectively and symmetrically from left and right sides of said coupler member.
 7. The control device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said left and right handgrips is provided with a petrol lever for controlling supply of petrol so as to adjust a driving speed of said virtual driving vehicle.
 8. A video driving game system comprising: a game console for controlling a video driving game, including a processor unit for executing the video driving game so as to manipulate a virtual driving vehicle of the video driving game, and a display apparatus including a display screen for displaying said virtual driving vehicle resulted from execution of said video driving game; and a control device including a coupler member, a handheld handle projecting outward from said coupler member toward an operator of said video driving game and adapted to be manipulated by the operator for turning said handle, thereby controlling said virtual driving vehicle, a left distance detector mounted on a left side of said coupler member, and a right distance detector mounted on a right side of said coupler member, wherein, movement of body of the operator toward said left side of said coupler member causes said left distance detector to generate a first signal that commands said virtual driving vehicle to swing leftwise of said coupler member and movement of body of the operator toward said right side of said coupler member causes said right distance detector to generate a second signal that commands said virtual driving vehicle to swing rightwise of said coupler member.
 9. The video driving game system according to claim 8, further comprising a rotation shaft structure, said coupler member being coupled to said game console via said rotation shaft.
 10. The video driving game system according to claim 8, wherein said virtual driving vehicle is selected from a group consisting of a virtual motorbike, a virtual bicycle, a virtual water craft and a virtual horse.
 11. The video driving game system according to claim 8, wherein each of said left and right distance detectors is an infrared sensor.
 12. The video driving game system according to claim 8, wherein said handheld handle includes a left handgrip and a right handgrip projecting outward respectively and symmetrically from left and right sides of said coupler member.
 13. The video driving game system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said left and right handgrips is provided with a lever for controlling supply of petrol so as to adjust driving speed of said virtual driving vehicle. 